Winter Hummingbirds

If you think you have a strange hummingbird in Lycoming County at any point during the year, we are always interested in reports. You can email any details and photos to lycobirds@gmail.com.

Winter Hummingbird Contest

Hummingbird species from the Western U.S. (different from our typical Ruby-throated Hummingbirds) are being found more frequently in Pennsylvania during fall and winter, especially Rufous Hummingbirds. Ornithologists are very interested in learning more about these wayward hummingbirds. Your participation can help contribute to the growing body of information about migrating hummingbirds. Lycoming Audubon Society will offer prizes to the first three individuals who are able to attract one of these vagrant hummingbirds, allow the bird to be confirmed as a species other than Ruby-throated and, if permitted, to be banded by a licensed bander.

• 2016 winning birds included a long-staying Rufous Hummingbird near Elimsport in Lycoming County, and the third Pennsylvania record/first Lycoming County record of Black-chinned Hummingbird in Montoursville.
• No winter hummingbirds were reported during 2017, 2018, or 2019.
• A Rufous Hummingbird was confirmed in Lycoming County in 2020.
• No winter hummingbirds were reported during 2021.
• Two rare hummingbirds were found in the contest area (one Clinton, one Sullivan) during 2022.

The 2023 Winter Hummingbird Contest is sponsored by Lycoming Audubon Society and LycoBirds.

How to Enter

Residents in Lycoming, Sullivan, Clinton and Tioga Counties are eligible. Maintain a hummingbird feeder mid-October through December. If you notice any hummingbird at your feeder, contact the email or one of the phone numbers listed below immediately.

Western hummingbird species can potentially be found before October, so if you think are are seeing one, regardless of an early date, feel free to contact us. However, our normal Ruby-throated are far more common at early dates, so take care with the identification. We welcome photos if you can get them.

While the contest is limited to the four counties listed above, if you are seeing a hummingbird anywhere in Pennsylvania that you believe is a western species, feel free to contact us for advice and to help ensure proper documentation of the sighting.

NOTE: Maintain a clean feeder. Sugar/Water ratio is 1-4 (i.e. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar). Red food coloring and other additives are not recommended, since they can harm the birds. If temperatures are predicted to go below 25 degrees, you may want to bring your feeder inside for the night to prevent freezing. Maintaining your feeder into winter will not prevent the resident Ruby-throated Hummingbirds from migrating south, and nearly all of them will have departed by mid-October regardless of the availability of feeders.

Prizes

The first three winners can choose one of the items below:

1. A copy of The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition
2. $25.00 Amazon.com gift card

Contact

For more info or to report a sighting, email hummingbirdcontest@comcast.net or call one of the numbers below.

• Williamsport Area — (570) 560-5976
• Lock Haven Area — (570) 748-7511

Sample of Past Contest-Winning Birds